Position

L.L.C. VS 501C3?

Before you read: We want you to know that its been our observation over the last 20+ years in ministry that we’ve seen a sharp decline in our dependency on God replaced with the arm of man. (Jer 17:5) So please take a moment to read what we have to say about the 501c3 mindset that we believe has had a negative affect on today’s church. This is not meant to demonize those who fall under this bracket but to make us more aware on how we navigate moving forward. We do understand that some laws are changing loosening up the grip on our ability to address the issues of our day without being penalized and that’s to be applauded. Christ however is our headship and that should never change even though some laws might.

Origins of the 501c3Back in 1954, then Sen. Lyndon B Johnson added churches to the 501c3 tax code. By coming under the headship of this government tax code we would receive benefits in the form of tax exemptions that we (The Church) could take advantage of. Perhaps what we didn’t understand or care about at the time was the massive restrictions put on the mouth of the church that would effectively prevent us from addressing the real issues of the day without being penalized. LBJ offered this as a favor to churches but it came with obvious strings attached. For a 501c3 church to openly speak out, or organize in opposition to, anything that the government declares "legal," even if it were immoral that church would jeopardize its tax-exempt status.

Impact on ChurchesThe 501c3 tax status has impacted the way believers support the ongoing work of churches and other ministries. Many choose if they will financially support you based off of your filling status. This has caused ministries to aggressively advertise that they are nonprofits so that people will be encouraged to financially support a particular ministry. In this scenario the giver also receives a tax break as well so that the incentive to give becomes more about the tax break over the goal and purpose of the ministry.

What does God say about Giving?Luke 6:38 says, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”, this is God’s 501c3 code. “Give and it will be given to you” is so powerful, so simple and yet so complicated. Clearly God has setup Spiritual Laws by which a partnership with Him is always to our benefit. As consumers our motivation to give should be about what God is calling us to give and nothing else.

THA MASH UNITTHA MASH UNIT is motivated to be an LLC (or for profit ministry) in part to help bring the church back to what we’re going to call, real Christian giving. We’re asking that you trust the vision that God has given us to move resources around (whether finances or other gifts) then weaponizing our abilities so that the lost can experience the love of God. Our vision is simple, “Take Back Territory from the devil”!!!

• Teaching The Word of God plainly without all the fluff, pomp and circumstance so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17)

• Through the arts: Music, Spoken Word, Film, etc. To create content that helps to shift the culture back to God• Discipleship Houses: For those just coming into Christ and are thirsty to learn the fundamentals of what it means to follow Christ. To Shepard those called to ministry through the arts by primarily looking at the industry as a mission field.